The Santa Barbara Independent

Purple Urchin Possibilities

Cover Story By Matt Kettmann

Santa Barbara fishermen team with shellfish farmer to build new industry, help kelp forests.

A Year into the Pandemic, Education Remains the Strategy for COVID-19 Scofflaws

Health By Tyler Hayden

Santa Barbara officials still prefer the carrot over the stick when confronting rule-breaking businesses.

Santa Barbara Unified Elementary Schools Reopening

Education By Delaney Smith

Secondary schools are expected to reopen once the county’s COVID case rate drops further.

Santa Barbara Unified Rejects Thoreau Charter Despite Community Support

Education By Delaney Smith

The proposed charter school pushes back on the district’s reasons for denial.

LaToya Ruby Frazier

Arts & Entertainment By Charles Donelan

UCSB Arts & Lectures Race to Justice continues with photographer/activist LaToya Ruby Frazier.

UCLA Making Big Mark in Santa Barbara Medical Market

Health By Nick Welsh

New player in town offers cancer and general practice medicine.

UCSB Opera Theatre Presents ‘Don Giovanni’

Arts & Entertainment By Josef Woodard

Isabel Bayrakdarian directs Mozart for the web.

multimedia Stories

Downtown Business Spotlight: The Status of Sipping

Video

Join Matt Kettmann in conversation with John Nasser (Night Lizard Brewing Company), Aron Ashland (The Cruisery / Wine Therapy), and Katie Grassini (Grassini Family Vineyards) in this week’s Downtown Business Spotlight.

Downtown Business Spotlight: Downtown Neighborhoods

Video

Join Robin Elander in conversation with Albert DiPadova (Sevilla Square, Riviera Towel Company), Hugh Margerum (Presidio Neighborhood), and Mary Lynn Harms-Romo (Paseo Nuevo) in this week’s Downtown Business Spotlight.

Photo Gallery | VADA Projected Student Art Show

Photo

Check out the artwork from Santa Barbara High Students’ virtual showcase being projected on the Lobero Theatre.

Downtown Business Spotlight: Money Matters

Video

Join Robin Elander in conversation with Janet Garufis (Montecito Bank & Trust), Nicki Parr (WEV), Clare Briglio (EDC Collaborative), and Miguel Avila (Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) in this week’s Downtown Business Spotlight.

City of Goleta Releases Old Town Sidewalks Celebration Video

Video

The video ribbon-cutting celebration marks the completion of the $3.2 million project on time and under budget.

Downtown Business Spotlight: Cuisines from Many Cultures

Video

Join Matt Kettmann in conversation with Ninder Josan (Apna), Charlotte Andersen (Andersen’s Danish Bakery & Restaurant), Daniel Yoshimi & Jennifer Yannella (Brasil Arts Café) as they discuss their different restaurants.

COVID-19 Update from Cottage Health

Video

Below is a status update as of January 28, 2021.

Downtown Business Spotlight: Heads in Beds

Video

Join Matt Kettmann in conversation with Chris Cline (Canary Hotel), Warren Nocon (Hotel Californian), and Paul Bullock (The Eagle Inn) as they discuss the downtown hotel scene.

Downtown Business Spotlight: Side Street Stars

Video

Join Matt Kettmann in conversation with Ruben Perez (Black Sheep), Mitchell Sjerven (Bouchon), and Tony Arroyo (Los Arroyos) as they discuss their restaurants off State Street.

Downtown Business Spotlight: New Year’s Resolutions: Taking Care of Mind, Body, and Soul

Video

Join Robin Elander in conversation with Adrienne Smith (Power of Your Om), and Mikki Reilly (Fitness Transform) as they discuss taking care of your mind, body, and soul.